Annals 



of the 



Missouri Botanical Garden 



Vol. 6 SEPTEMBER, 1919 No. 3 



AN EDIBLE GARDEN HEBELOMA* 



EDWARD ANGUS BURT 



Mycologist and Librarian to the Missouri Botanical Garden 



Professor in the Henry Shaw School of Botany of • 



Washington University 



The species of Hebeloma have been so invariably found in 

 woods in autumn in the past that it occasioned great surprise to 

 find a fine species of this genus in great abundance, June 3, in 

 cultivated borders of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The 

 mycelium of this species was well developed and could be fol- 

 lowed to the strawy manure which had been spaded underground 

 in the borders. 



Species of Hebeloma have usually a nauseous odor or taste, or 

 an odor or taste of radishes, or may be bitter, and are regarded as 



holesome and, in some 

 arden collection were of good 



Specimens of 



cm 



diameter, not infested with larvae, not rapidly putrescent, with 



farinaceous taste and odor 



prom 



lse of being a very desirable acquisition if its edibility could be 

 established. This was done by cooking specimens in butter and 

 eating a small portion of a pileus with other food at dinner. As 

 no disagreeable symptoms were experienced over night, double 

 the quantity of the fungus was eaten at breakfast. This proced- 

 ure was carried on until three fructifications were eaten at one 

 time, when others also ate the fungus with equal freedom and 

 decided that this species is palatable and has a delicious charac- 

 teristic flavor. 



The specimens did not have as large size and as great weight 



1 Issued October 11, 1919. 



Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard., Vol. 6, 1919 /•-• y-j x 



